Stone picking machine



Nov. 7, 1944. o. F. REITER 2,362,402

STONE PICKING MACHINE Nov. 7, 1944., o. F. REITER 2,362,402

STONE PICKING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1942 3 Shee'cs--Shee'cl 2 Nov. 7,1944. o. F. REITER 2,362,402

STONE PICKING MACHINE Filed May 19, 1942 s sheets-sheet 5 Ummm' lll dwgffy. /4,

Patented Nov. 7, 1944 STONE PICKING MACHINE tis F. Reiter, BaltimorCorporation, Maryland e, Md., assignor to Fastpic Baltimore, Md., acorporation of Application May 19, 1942, Serial No. 443,619

(Cl. 55-l7) 7 Claims.

The invention relates'to the general form of stone picker disclosed inLetters Patent of the United States No. 2,141,557 granted to me Dec. 27,1938 and Letters Patent No. 2,213,370 granted to me Sept. 3, 1940.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical sectionalview from front to rear of the reel having stone lifting arms, andshowing in side elevation conveyor or track bars for directing thestones to a point of delivery when advanced by the lifting arms.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a spring and lever mechanism for stressing therock shafts which carry stone lifting arms.

Fig. 3 is a front view of a cross bar, constituting a part of the mainframe of the machine, together with the means for attachingconveyor barsthereto.

Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section of parts shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a removable grill to occupy a position toprevent stones from flying out of their prescribed course.

Fig. 6 is a side view of Fig. 5.

Fig. 'I is a side view of one of quadrant plates which carry the rakeand the removable grill.

Fig. 8 is an edge view of Fig. '7.

Fig. 9 is a view of the angle bar which carries the rake teeth.

Fig. 10 is a view of the bar of Fig. 9 showing a part of one of the raketeeth and a part of the removable grill associated with the angle bar.

Fig. 11 is a front view of the trunnion of the rock shaft of the reel.Fig. 121s an end view of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side view of part of the machine.

Fig. 14 is a detail view looking at the front ends of the rake bars, theshield sh, part of the reel 4 and part of the stone lifting arms.

As in said patent above mentioned, the machine includes a rotary reelmade up of discs 4 mounted on ashaft 4b. The reel has Astone picker orlifting arms or tines 42 which cooperate with a rake organization,having teeth 6 which take the stones from the ground to be contacted bythe lifting arms and carried forward thereby along the track or conveyorbars I which are spaced apart from each other and which deliver thestones into a hopper or receptacle in front of said reel and indicatedgen-f erally at 8.

The reel may be driven to rotate constantly while the machine is inoperation by mechanism like that disclosed in the patent aforesaid. A

In the present machine the stone lifting arms are mounted in spacedapart relation on rock shafts 43 which in cross section are of T shape.These rock shafts extend across the space between the discs 4 of thereel and they have journals 43a mounted in suitable bearings 4a on theouter sides of the discs 4 of the reel. These journals project throughthe bearings and have ends 43c which are rectangular in cross sectionand receive two armed levers 44 held in place by a cotter pin 45. Thesebell crank levers have projections or hook shaped members 44a to receiveand hold the ends of helical springs 4B. There are four sets of thestone lifting arms 42 and four rock shafts 43 and the latter aredistributed one for each set of arms and these rock shafts are spacedaround the reel shaft 4b at equal distances apart and at equal distancesfrom the said -reel shaft.

The springs 46, of which there are four on each disc, extend each fromone bell crank lever 44 to the next adjacent bell crank lever. Thesesprings are normally under tension and they normally hold the rockshafts in position with their respective stone lifting arms extendingsubstantially radially of the axis of rotation of the reel disc.

The axes of the journals 43a of the rock shaft 43 are displaced relativeto the substantially radial planes in which the lifting arms lie, saiddisplacement being forwardly of said planes in the direction of rotationof the reel. This results in suchv an offset relation of the lifting armrelative to the center of the rock shaft that as soon as the lifting armstrikes an obstruction it begins to turn about the center of its rockshaft and the arc.described by the end of the arm contacting theobstruction will begin to move inwardly in respect to the reel andtherefore it will move away from the obstruction and will be free fromsaid obstruction more quicklyl than if the end of the arm described apath first in an outward direction from the reel and hence would beforced into stronger contact with the obstruction even though at aslightly later period of its movement it would begin to move inwardly ofthe reel and hence gradually withdraw from contact with the obstruction.

Briefly stated, the arrangement and action is such that as soon as thelifting arm strikes an obstruction that it cannot move, it begins todescribe a path in a direction away from the obstruction because whenthe lifting arm is in normal .position it lies in a radial plane in rearof the center of rotation of the shaft in respect to the generaldirection of travel of the machine. In other words the lifting arm whenswinging rearwardly relative to the forward movement of the machine willdescribe a path in an inward direction in respect to center of themachine and thus will move away from the obstruction both rearwardly andalso inwardly of the reel.

It will be observed that no shock absorber device is employed inconnection with the lifting arms to take the shock when an arm which hasbeen moved or stressed .by contact with an obstruction is released fromsaid contact and is restored to its original position under springpressure.

Should the lifting arm strike anv obstruction in such manner that itshould yield in a forward direction the arrangement of springsinterconnecting with the series of shafts will allow this forwardyielding movement to take place. In other words the rock shafts underthe arrangement of the springs above described are free to turn fromnormal position either forwardly or backwardly if and when any liftingarm strikes an obstruction.

The springs normally, or when at rest, are under a tension ofsubstantially fty pounds, which is enough to hold the stone lifting armin normal position so that it will begin transporting the stones of thesize that the machine is intended to pick up and advance them towards apoint of delivery into a hopper. The arms o1' the bell cranks 4I are ofequal length and are substantially 90 apart. When this mechanism is atrest the springs are axially in line with the center lines of these armswhich center lines extend through the centers of the journals of therock shafts 43. With the mechanism at rest the springs hold the bellcranks in such position so that the lifting arms carried by said rockshafts lie in extended position to contact with and impel any stonelying in its path and of a size that can be picked up by the arm andtransported.

If the stone or obstruction is too large or too heavy to be picked up bythe arm then the appropriate springs will yield and allow the contactingarm to yield and pass the obstruction, whereupon the arm will berestored to its extended or working position by the said appropriatesprings ready to perform its function when it strikes a 'stone or otherobject of a size and weight to be carried along and lifted by the arm.When any spring receives the extra stress of an arm striking anobstruction it will be noticed that said spring will stretch, but asthis stress is exerted axially and therefore in a direction coincidingwith the center line of that arm of that bell crank lever whichtemporarily is anchoring the spring, this last mentioned bell crank willnot turn and hence extra stress will not be transmitted to said bellcrank and to the next spring. What has been said of the one springconnected with the bell crank on the rock shaft of the lifting arm beingmoved also applies to the spring connected with the other arm of thebell crank on the rock shaft of the said lifter arm being moved i. e.said last mentioned spring is itself tensioned but its tension increaseis not transmitted in a material degree to which acts as an anchor forsaid last mentioned stressed spring.

This series of springs and bell cranks are on the outer side of thediscs constituting the main elements of the reel which carries the rockshafts and desirably there are a set of these springs with their bellcranks located at each side of the machine on the journals 43a whichextend through the side discs i of the reel and receive the bell crankson their outer ends.

With the above arrangement no stop means is `necessary to arrest therock shafts or the picker arms to determine the normal position of therock shafts and the lifting arms carried thereby, because the springswill restore themselves to normal position and in doing so will restorethe bell crank rock shafts and stone lifting arms. The springs are ofsuch strength that they will hold the lifting arms in normal position topick up and push the stones along the conveyor bars to the point wherethey will pass into a suitable hopper at the front of the machine. If astone too heavy or too deeply embedded in the ground is encountered thesprings will yield and allow the lifting arm to pass this obstruction.

The stone lifting arms move in the spaces between the conveyor or stonedirecting bars I which are supported at their front ends from anL-shaped angle iron 5i forming a part of the frame of the machine. Itextends across the machine and is connected to and supported by sidebars forming parts of the machine frame. The upper stretch of saidconveyor bars are arranged fiatwise, that is to say, with their broadupper surfaces facing upwardly and their side edges facing laterally sothat broad surfaces are afforded for the stones to rest upon while beingforced along said bars .by the lifting arms 42. These conveyor or trackbars are of strap metal and the lower portions are set up on edge withtheir broad surfaces facing laterally and their edges facing upwardlyand downwardly.

These lower portions have comparatively wide spaces between them so thatdirt and trash may fall therethrough to the ground. These upper andlower portions of the conveyor or track bars are formed in' one piecewith each other and the part where they are twisted at V is ofconsiderable lengthwise extent, to avoid the presence of abruptshoulders against which the lifting arms might strike and be damaged.The twist at V is the only one in the conveyor bar.

The lower stretches of the conveyor bars which are set up on edge withtheir flat sides facing laterally of the machine continue in thisposition and form to their ends which are connected to the frame bar 5l.For making this connection the frame bar 5l has bolted at a to its baseflange Ela a depending right angular iron plate or bracket b to which isbolted at c the front end of the lower stretch of the conveyor bar whichfront end marked 1a remains set up vertically on edge and constitutes anextension of the lower stretch of said conveyor or guide bar, withoutbend or twist at or near this forward point of support of said bar.

These conveyor bars are intended to have yielding movement to avoidclogging of the material being advanced along them by the stone liftingand propeller arms 42. They are supported therefor only at their forwardends and this contributes to their capacity to yield and to have ameasure of movement or vibration which will free them from accumulationsof material the bell crank 'I5 thereon, i1; being possible for adjacentbars to separate sumciently to free themselves of clogged material.

The upper stretches 1b of the conveyor or track bars being arrangedilatwise, i. e. with their edges directed laterally are adapted to beattached at their forward ends to the upstanding flange 5|b ofthe framebar 5I and this connection can be made without abruptly bending saidstretch 'lb and for the purpose also of receiving the front end of thelower stretch 1a in slightlyinclined position, said cross bar 5| isarranged at an inclination to a horizontal plane.

' The forward ends of the upper stretches 1b of the conveyor bars lieagainst the front side of the backwardly inclined flange 5Ib of theframe bar 5i and clamping plates 5lc bear on these forward ends of theconveyor bars where they are secured by bolts d, it being noted thateach clamp holds the forward ends of two adjacent conveyor bars, bybridging the space between said bars and bearing on the margins thereof.The lower terminal portions of the upper stretches 1b are turnedforwardly at lc and the clamping plates 5|c overlie and engage theseturned ends.

The forward ends of the upper stretches of the conveyor barsmay bestrengthened by members e in the form of metal stripsclamped between theforward ends of the bars and the upper flange 5Ib of the cross bar 5I.

The journals 43a of the rock shafts 43 are formed each with a base plate43h which is secured to the said rock shaft with two or more of thelifting arms 42 between.

Rake teeth 6 cooperate with the stone lifting arms 42 to direct thestones upwardly from the ground and thence in a forward direction whenelevated.

Rake organization 'I'he rake organization includes quadrants 6a, one ateach side of the machine consisting of metal plates of generallytriangular form mounted loosely on the main axle 4b and adjustablethereabout as will be made clear. Angle iron members RIU- RIU extendbetween and are attached at their ends to these quadrant members bybolts at R8.

These angle iron cross pieces serve to connect the two side platesof thequadrant organization to make a strong structure for supporting the raketeeth and for adjusting the same relative to the ground.

The rake teeth 6 are firmly secured to the angle iron cross pieces RIUin any suitable way, and they curve downwardly and forwardly so that thestones will be engaged thereby and guided upwardly when the same arelifted and propelled by the lifting arms 42 of the reel. The rake teethare spaced apart from each other so that dirt will pass between themonto the ground. Above the rake teeth there is mounted on the quadrantunit a grill RIB. This is of open work structure made up of curved barsRIB spaced apart and depending from a cross piece RIS which is bolted orotherwise secured at RH to the quadrant plates. The lower ends of thegrill bars have a fiat cross piece G attachedthereto which rests uponthe uppermost angle iron member RI 0 while the lower end of the grillbar reaches down on the front side of the upper angle iron RIU. Thisgrill is removable so that access may be had to the interior of thestructure for any purpose as may be required. It does not need to bebolted at its lower end, because itis held against movethe right or leftas shown constitutes a guard against flying stones being immediatelythrown up and away from the machine. The baille plate is welded to sidemembers R|4 in the form of plates which are bolted or otherwise securedto the plates forming the quadrant member above described. Any suitableform of screen may be employed extending forward above the as a furtherprotection against stones being thrown away from the machine.

Any suitable cover may be used to extend over the springs connecting theseveral rock shafts to protect these parts against damage.

Substantially the same ground roller and its means of adjustment mayPatent 2,141,557 of Dec. 27, 1938.

The side discs 4 of the reel are made of such a smaller diameter inrespect to the carrying wheels of the apparatus the ground.

The stone picking arms will enter the ground a sufficient distance,however, to insure good contact with stones that are to be removed. Thisrenders the stone picking act easier, and therefore uses less power.

In order to prevent stones from clogging in the space left between thedisc of said reduced diameter and the outside rake teeth a' shieldconsisting of a metal plate sh is welded to the outside of each of theend teeth of the series of rake teeth. This shield will prevent stonesfrom becoming lodged in the space between the reduced diameter discs ofthe reel and the end teeth of the rake.

Reverting to the action of the bell cranks 4d and vsprings [16 it willbe understood that when any one of the bell cranks i4 moves to cause theassociated stone picking arm to trip, tension is built up substantiallyequally on four of the springs 46, two on each disc of the reel discs 4.The opposite bell cranks will now act as anchors having practically nomotion. 'I'his mechanism eliminates the stops and shock absorbing meansand avoids breakage ofthe stone lifting arms.

I claim:

1. In apparatus of the class described, a reel carrying four rock shaftsjournalled thereon and having stone picking arms, said rock shafts beingspaced apart at points ninety degrees from each other, bell crank leversmounted on said rock shafts and each bell crank having armssubstantially at right angles to each other, helical springs extendingeach in normal position with its axis coinciding with a line passingthrough the axial centers of two of springs being connected at theirends to the arms of the bell crank levers, and forming in normalposition a substantially quadrangular assembly, said springs restoringthe bell crank shafts to and arresting them at said normal position.

2. In combination in stone picking apparatus comprising a reel, stonepicking arms carried by the reel, rake teeth cooperating with the stonepicking arms for effecting movement of the stones to a point ofdischarge and shields closing the spaces between the end rake teeth andthe reel,

said baille plate to the hopper be employed as in my y that said discswill notcut into the bell crank levers, said and extending from eachrock shaft in diierent Y directions in relation to each other, springsextending between the shafts, anchored to the lever arms of saidshafts,l and being free from other anchorage on the reel, said springs,shaft ends,

and lever arms thereon being arranged in a connected series around theaxis of the reel, substantially as described.

4. In stone picking apparatus accord-ing to claim 2, said shields beingsupported on said end rake teeth.

5. In stone picking apparatus, a rotatable reel, a plurality of rockshafts journalled on the reel and circumferentially spaced therearound,stone picking arms carried by each rock shaft, a two armed lever carriedby each rock shaft with one arm of each lever directed towards oneadjacent rock shaft and the other arm of each lever directed towardsanother adjacent rock shaft, and

a resilient device tensioned in a generally chordal direction betweeneach pair of adjacent arms of the levers. v

6. In stone picking apparatus, a rotatable reel including end members,stone picking arms carried by the reel, normally stationary rake teethterminating adjacent the surface from which stones are to be pickedcooperating with the stone picking arms for retaining the stones withinthe path described by the stone picking arms, and normally stationaryshielding means preventing articles from entering a space between one ofsaid rotatable end members and an adjacent rake tooth.

7, In stone picking apparatus, a frame including side frame members, anL-shaped bar having two limbs arranged transversely of said side framemembers and at the forward end of the apparatus, a conveyor bar forminga closed loop rearwardly of said transverse bar with the ends of theconveyor bar being substantially straight adjacent said transverse barand the substantially straight ends being arranged at approximatelyright ang.es to each other, means securing one end portion of theconveyor bar in at engagement With one limb of said L-shaped transversebar, and means securing the other end portion of the conveyor bar insubstantially at engagement with the other limb of said L-shapedtransverse bar.

OTIS F. REITER.

